Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-01-12
THE YITICULTURISTS.
A Meeting Held in San francisco Cor
corning Wine Interests.


corning Wine Interests.
| In accordance with a call issued by
C. A. Wetmore, President of California
| organization known as the National VIII
| cultural Association, number of gentle
men met in the parlors of the Occidental
Hotel on Monday. Among those present
were: John T. Doyle, M. NJ. Estee, Judge
Stanly, E. T. Preston, Captain w. H. Nc
Intyre E. G. Priber, Judge Latimer, Cap
tain Shillaber, John Hastings, John n.
Wheeler, Drury Melone, Arpad Harazthy,
Charles Kohler, Jr., ]. Crellin, r. Heath,
J. A. Robinson, Judge Mckee, ]. L. Wet
more Mr.. Dela6eld, G. Groezinger, L. H.
Wakefield Mr.. Reuff, C.. B. Elliot E. B.
Shaw, H. F. Borie and E. H. Rixford.
In calling the meeting to order C. A.
Wetmore explained the objects of the meet
ing to be the consideration of the viticult-
ural interests of the State, and particularly
to consider the Green spurious wine bill.
He called attention to the law as it now
reads. showed its inoperatiyeness, and de-
tailed the difficulties that stood in the way
of drawing up bill that should be perfect,
plain and feasible. 1t was to assist in the
framing and passage of such bill that he
had gone East, he said, as the attorney in
fact of the Viticultural Commission. The
first thing necessary. he found, was to
secure the support of the Administration.
and next, that the bill must be such as
would gain the cooperation of the Eastern
wine manufacturers. He then related his
experiences in Washington, the result of
which was the Green bill. Referring to
the composition of the measure, he said
that he had proceeded on the plan that
though it carried dozen different brands
of authorship, and was scarcely model of
literary merit it was to be supported, be-
cause, after all, it contained a vital pro-
vision. 1t was most essential, he contin-
ued, that the grape growers of this State
should assist the grape growers OF the East,
and not antagoniZe them, as had been done.
Referring to some of the difficulties sur
rounding Standardization, Wetmore as
serted that the people of California them
selves were guilty of the shameless use of
injurious substances. Over $1,000 gallons
of aniline dye, called cherry juice, were
imported into this State last year, and the
stuff manufactured from this was dumped
by the wholesale in New Orleans.
A discussion then ensued on the proper
definition of pure wine, Wetmore insisting
that it was impracticabe to desire strictly
pure wine, and that it was absurd to say
that there was even in California a single
wine-gr who did not, for instance,
practice the addition of fannie acid to his
wine.
Eyes, there is" said NJ NJ. Estee spring
ing to his feet, there is one who does not,
and l believe" he went on amid applause,
THAT when California wine-makers take
to using other substances than those of the
pure product of the grape that her reputa-
ton as wine-making country is at an end"
Much discussion and some heat followed
concerning Mr.. Wetmores work in the
East, and finally ]. T. Doyle said that he
believed the proper course that ought to
have been taken by the chief viticultural
officer of the State was to have put forward
the California standard of pure wine and
if he had found that the Eastern people
wanted the liberty to manufacture spurious
compounds then it should have been Wet
mores duty to have withdrawn and not at
tempt to make concessions. The best way
out of the present difficulty he thought, |
was to present the following resolution for
the action of the meeting:
Resolved, That the grapc-growers and wine
makers of California are heartily in favor of
Congressional legislation taxing all spurious and
counterfeit wines, but we demand that the legal
definition OF pure wine shall be limited to the
product of the grape. All substitutes as pure
wine or beverages compounded from other fruits
or ingredients should be required to be sold I'M
der true names, as gooseberry wine, celery wine,
eldcrberry wine, glucose wine or the like.
Mr.. Wetmore objected to the adoption,
preferring, he said, that no snap judgment
should be taken and that the resolution
should be referred to committee.
/ have no objection to that" said Mr.
Doyle, if you do not appoint committee
that is permeated with your view of the
matter. The fact is, said Mr.. Doyle, you
have become so impressed with Eastern
opinion that you do not exactly see things
as unbiased Caifornians do.'
r. j. Preston thoughtit would be absurd |
for us to attempt to set a super-perfect
standard of purity.
To this NJ NJ Estee objected. he declar- |
ing that the future safety of the wine in
dustry in California depended upon the
broad publication of the fact that what |
the State did produce was pure wine; that |
it was anxious that everything that was |
not pure should be characterized as such. |
Arpad Haraszthy thought that the peo- |
pie of California were acting selfishly in |
arrogating to themselves the definition of |
pure wine, and he was in favor of taking |
in the Eastern people as conductors, and |
accepting the compromise offered in the |
Green bill.
Finally Mr.. Wetmore appointed the |
committee above suggested. as follows /: |
L. D. Latimer, H. Barstow, John f. Stanly, |
w. H. Myrick, r. J. Preston, J. T. Doyle, |
n. NJ. Estee, G. Groezinger and Arpad-l
Haraszthy.
The appointment of these particular gen.
tlemen some of whom were supposed to |
favor Mr.. Wetmores northumberland |
considerable comment and the meeting !
finally adjourned sine die somewhat alb |
ruptly. Mr.. Latimer, as Chairman of the |
committee, said that notification of its |
meeting would soon be given.